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When will the product containing the Hoodia gordonii extract be available?
The necessary clinical trials and other studies to ensure the safety of the extract will take a few years before a product will be available.
Who are the San people and how do they and South Africa benefit from sales of Hoodia gordonii?
The CSIR have entered a benefit sharing agreement with an organisation representing the San people, to ensure that any financial benefit flowing from the commercialisation of the patented Hoodia gordonii extract is shared with people whose traditional knowledge first led to the investigation of the plant. In addition, Phytopharm has worked closely with the CSIR and appreciated the importance of the continuing development to South Africa. To this end, Phytopharm has collaborated with the CSIR and opened a clinical supplies unit and a botanical supplies unit in South Africa.
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What does the inclusion of Hoodia in Appendix II of CITES mean?
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. There are 166 Parties (States bound by the Convention). Species covered by CITES are listed in three appendices. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but for which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilisation incompatible with their survival. Following a review at the Conference of Parties in Bangkok (October 2004) it was decided to include Hoodia onto Appendix II of CITES. This will help ensure that all harvest operations and trade of Hoodia plant material are controlled at an international level in order to conserve indigenous plant populations within the range states (South Africa, Namibia and Botswana).
Source: .phytopharm.co.uk |
